Adjustable range egg-sorting machine



Aug. l, 1950 c. PAGE 2,517,341

ADJUSTABLE RANGE EGG-SORTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet1 ug. L 1950 c. PAGE ADJUSTABLE RANGE EGG-somma MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Aug. 29, 1947 nnentor Cy/Qece lge E @MMA/@05AM lornegs www L 1950C, PAGE,

ADJUSTABLE RANGE EGG-SORTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 29,1947 www Snnentor kge (Ittornegs Patented Aug. 1, 19590 ADJUSTABLE RANGEEGG-SORTING MACHINE Clarence Page, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Page andCox, Detroit, Mich.,

Michigan a corporation of Application August Z9, 1947, Serial No.`771,227

This `invention relates articles according to their weight, and in`particular to egg-grading machines. n

One object of this invention is to provide an egg-grading machine whichwill grade eggs `ac cording to their weight at a series of Weighingstations, the machine being provided withconveying mechanism whichconveys the eggs from one station to another, each station being adaptedto Weigh and grade out the given range of weights of eggs. i

Another object is to provide an egg-grading machine, as set forth in thepreceding objects, wherein an adjustment is provided for `simultaneouslyaltering the Weight limits of eggs graded at any particular weighingstation, so that if, for example, the eggs being graded :would result indisproportionate amounts being allocated to diierent ranges, thesedisproportionate amounts can be corrected so as to apportion the eggs inranges which are more nearly according to the proportions which theoperator desires.

Another object is to provide an egg-grading machine, as set forth in thepreceding objects, wherein the egg-Weighing machines are arranged sideby side at each weighing station, and conveyors are provided for eachstation for carrying `away the eggs graded out at veach station, thepreviously-mentioned range adjusting mechanism permitting the proportionof eggs carried by each conveyor to be varied as desired.

Another object is to provide an egg-grading machine, as set forth inthepreceding objects, wherein each bank or row of egg-weighing devicesis removable as a unit for. cleaning purpOSeS.

Another object is to provide an `egg-grading machine, as set forth inthe precedingfobjects, wherein an egg-feeding unit is provided which4forcibly rotates the eggs while conveying them automatically to theegg-weighing unit, turning the eggs until their long axes are horizontalWhile separating them laterally into spaced rows of eggs. i

This application is a continuatiomin part, of

my copending application, `Serial No. 718,755, led December 27, 1946,for Egg-Grading Machine, now matured into Patent #2,481,440, dated -toapreferred form of the invention, showing the egg-weighing units orstations and `the weight-range adjustment t associated. therewith;

1s claims. (C1. 209-1219) to machines for grading 2 i Figure 2 is a topplan view of one of the egg- Weighing `units or stations of theegg-grading machine shown in Figure 1, looking along the line 2--2 inFigure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side ele"l vation of theegg-weighingunit or station shown in Figure 2, partly in section alongthe line 3-3 in Figure 2; i i Figure 4 is a central vertical sectionthrough one of the egg-weighing devices in the eggweighing unit shown inFigure 2-, taken along the line 4--4 therein; i

Figure 5 is a rear elevation, partly in longitudinal section, along theline 5-5 in Figure 2; of one end of an egg-weighing unit with one i ofthe egg-weighing devices;

Figure 6 is a` fragmentary side elevation'of a portion of the mechanismshown in Figure 3 as modified to permit quick removal ofl an entire bankof weighing devices; Figure 7 is-a top plan view of an egg-feeding`unitliorluse with the egg-weighing units shown in Figure 1*; i Y Figure8 is a side elevation, partly broken away,

of the egg-feeding unit shown in Figure '7;#and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical section along the line 9 9 in Figure8. i

In `my co-pending application Serial No. 718,755, filed December `2'?,1946, for an Egg- `Grading Machine, `I have-disclosed a machine whichgrades eggs according to their` `weight at a Series of egg-gradingstations or units, the eggs being automatically transferred from onestation to another in the event that they are not graded out at aparticular station. The machine shown in my above-mentioned co-pendingapplication *provides an individual adjustment for altering the weightsetting of each of the individual egg-- Weighing devices in a givenegg-weighing unit or station, but does not provide a simultaneousadjustment for simultaneously altering the weight-settings of all theegg-weighing devices 'atl a given station or unit. Y f

In the handling of large quantities of eggs,it

Vhas been found that the average weights of the egg` vary according tothe season of the year.

Accordingly, if the egg-weighing devices in `the various stations give asuitable proportionate distribution of the eggs at one season of theyear,

itis.- found that the proportionate distribution 'will vary considerablyat other seasons of the year. The present inventiontherefore providesmechanism for simultaneously i adjusting the Weight-settings of all ofthe egg-weighing devices .in a given Weighing station, sothat thecritical weight at which an egg is graded out may be altered for all ofthe egg-weighing devices in a given station or unit without having toadjust all of the eggweighing devices individually. Thus, if at a givenseason of the year the average weights of the eggs are running heavy,the egg-weighing devices may be simultaneously adjusted to vpass heaviereggs to the subsequent weighing stations without grading them out. Thisprevents the eggs from being disproportionf ately graded out at anygiven weighing station and imparts a iiexibility to the weighing machinewhich adapts it to varying conditions otherwise beyond the control ofthe user.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows the upper portion ofan egg-grading or sorting machine, generally designated in, this beingthe portion of the machinepertinent to the present invention. Themachine as a whole is described and claimed in my co-pending applicationSerial No. 718.755, led December 27, 1946, for an Egg-Grading Machine,as stated above. .TI-he portion of the machine pertinent to the presentinvention consists of a frame H having uprights I2 interconnected bylower cross members I3 and Lipper cross members I4. The cross members I3and I4 are preferably of channel cross-section in order to providesufficient rigidity- Bolted to the rearward side of the frame Il, whichis approximately rectangular in plan view, is a guide block I5 having aguide groove i6 in the form of a dove-tail groove which slidably reoeives a dove-tail slide l1 to which is attached avertically-reciprocable member I3. Theupper end of thevertically-reciprocable member I8 is viianged, as at I9. Bolted, as at25, to the igange IQ, is a corresponding vertical flange ,2l upon ahorizontal member 22 which extends forwardly over the machine Il). l

4The horizontal member 22 is of roughly -Tshaped cross-section, and isprovided with a horizontal cavity 23 along the opposite sides of whichare mounted parallel guide ribs 24 of yeshaped cross-section (one, onlybeing shown) upon which a horizontally-movable slide or carriage 25 isreciprocably mounted, the slide 25 having guide gITOoves 25 of Vshapedcrossfseotion corresponding to the guide grooves 24 and sl'idablyengaging the latter. The slide 25 is provided with rack teeth 27- on itsupper side and these mesh with a pinion 28 mounted upon a shaft 29journaled in the vertically reciprocable member IB.

Mounted on the. outer end of the shaft 29,. is a pinion 3l) which, inturn, meshes with rack teeth 3| upon a vertically reciprocable rack barA32, the lower portion of which is guided by a boss 3,3 having a bore 34of square cross-.section corresponding to the square cross-section ofthe rack bar 32.

Secured, as at 35, to the underside of the slide 2-5, are approximatelyZ-shaped eggeholders 36, with bent fingers 3'! at their lower endsadapted to hold the eggs 38 to be graded. The eggs 38. are

separated from their containers by an egg-feeding unit of the machine,generally designated 4U (,Figure l) which isdisclosed and claimed in mypreviously-mentioned co-pendingv application Serial No. 718,755, filedDecember 27, 1946. The unit 40 separates the eggs from their containersand deposits them in a row upon egg-rests 4| consisting of pairs ofspaced Curved pins, where they are picked up by the fingers 3'! of the`egg.- holders 35 and transportedl fromk one weighing station to anotheras hereinafter explained. The

In order to transport the eggs 3S from the egg rests 4| to the variousweighing stations, the Vertical member I8 and the rack shaft 32 arereciprocated vertically by cams, as disclosed in my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 718,755, mentioned above, the reciprocation ofthe rack shaft 32 causing rotation of the pinions 35 and 28 and thereciprocation of the horizontally movable slide or carriage 25, as shownin the dotted lines in Figure 1. The slide 25 is also carried up anddown bodily by the vertically-reciprocable member I8 in timedrelationship therewith so that the fingers 31 describe the path shown bythe arrows and chain lines at the right-hand side of Figure 1. The slide25 rst is raised as it is advanced to the right along the upper dottedline until it reaches the position shown by the dotted line in the upperright-hand corner of Figure 1. The slide 25 then drops downward and isthereafter moved to the right, and ytlnn upward, the forked fingers 31passing on opposite sides of the egg rests 4l, which are likewiseslotted to receive. and pass the nngers 37, lifting the eggs 3B off therests 4l and carrying them to the left in the direction of the arrows,then downward to deposit them at the rst egg-weighing station andfinally upward and forward again to repeat the cycle. All this mechanismand the motions produced by it have been fully described and illustratedin my above-mentioned co-pending application Serial No. 718,755, and arebeyond the scope of the present invention.

frame l i is roughly in the form of a table which supports severalegg-.weighing or grading stations, generally .designated .42, 43 ,and44. each of which is equipped with an endless conveyor 45, 4B and 4lrespectively (Figure l). The egw weighing or grading units 0I." Stations42, 43 and 44 are identical in construction and differ only in theirsetting. At the station 42 the heaviest range of eggs is weighed out anddeposited upon the conveyor 45, at the next Station 43 the range of eggsof medium weight is similarly graded out and carried away bythe conveyor46, and at the. station 44 thelightest range of eggs is similarly gradedout and carried away by the conveyor 4T. Any remaining eggs are thencarried to a. nonweighing station 48 where they arev dumped upon aconveyor 49 which carries them away. Since the weighing units orstations 42, 43 and 44 are similar, ay description of the station 42will suiiice forall.

Mounted between the upper cross-members I4 of the frame l l are channelmembers 5B (Figures 2 and 4), thek Opposite ends of which haveupwardly-bent pivot arms 5l bolted thereto, as at 56a. The` upper end-srof` the arms 5I are bored, as at 5la (Figure 2), to receive pivot pins5.2, these, in turn, being secured as by the pins 53 in bores 54; in theupwardly-extending portions of angle brackets 55, the horizontalportions of which are bolted as at 56 to the upper frame cross-membersi4.. The channel members 55 are thus mounted to swing upward or downwardand locked in place byoppositely-.extending cap screws 57l and 58threaded vertically toward one another through brackets 59. and 60which, in turn, are secured, as at 6| and E2, respectively (Figures 2and 5)., to the upper horizontal frame members I4'.

Mounted', as by the fasteners 63, on the upper surface or web ofi eachchannel member 5B, is a series ofpairsfot oppositely-facing anglebrackets 64, the inner angle `brackets being doubled or U-shaped for`convenience. 4The upright Aportions of these angle brackets areprovided with threaded bores `|55 (Figure 5) to `receive pivot screws 6Glocked in position by lock nuts 61 and having pointed pivot rods orspindles 38 mounted in conical sockets 69 in the inner ends oi the pivotscrews 66. Mounted on the spindles G8 are blocks 10 having bores 1|(Figure 5) for the reception of the spindles B8. The pivotal motion ofthe blocks 1l) is limited lby limit screws 12 (Figure 4) threadedthrough the bores 13 in the Webs of the channel members 5U and locked inposition by the locknuts 14. The upper ends of the limit screws 1,2engage the lower surfaces of the blocks 1I), forming a rest for theseblocks.

Threaded into, the horizontal bores 15 in the backs of the blocks 15 arestuds 1E.' Mounted on the studs 16 (Figure 4) `are counterweights 11which have threaded bores 18 andare held in position by lock nuts 19.Secured, as by the fasteners 8U, to the upper surfaces of the fblocks1U, are egg supports 8|, the rearward portions of which are providedwith upwardly-extending wings 82. The forward portions 83 (Figure 2) ofthe egg supports 8| consist of spaced arms which are arcuately cut awayon their upper edges, as at 84 (Figure` 4). The portions 84 are suitablycurved according to the curvature of an average egg, and are separatedfrom one another by cutaway portions 85 (Figure 2,), and also havedownwardly-depending anges 85 along their lower lateral edges.Immediately beneath the forward portions 83 (Figures 2 and 4) areinclined ramps or apror1s`1 having slots 38 for the passage of the arms83. The ramps or aprons 81 ;at their lower edges terminate introughshaped or channel-shaped portions 89 having vertical sides 90 and9|, to which angle brackets 92 are attached, as by welding. The lowerends of the angle brackets 92 are secured as at 93 to the frame uppercross members I4.

In order to control the forward oscillations of the blocks 1D which formportions of the weighing devices, individually and generally designated94, transverse rods 95 are journaled at their opposite ends in brackets95 secured, as at 91 (Figures 3 and 4) to the flanges of the channelmembers 48. Mounted on one end of each rod 95 is a crank arm 9B` (Figure5) carrying at its outer end a pivot pin 95 upon which the enlarged andbored collarsilll of a rod |9| is pivotally supported. The rods 95 arebored transversely, as at |92, to receive stop pins |43 which projectupward obliquely into engagement with the front surfaces of the blocks1li.

Each of the weighing units or stations 42, 43 and 44 is provided withone of the collars im) secured t0 the rod |0| at spaced intervalstherealong, so that as the rod lill is reciprocated, the rods 95 arerotated by the crank arms 98, thereby swinging the stop pins |93 intoand out of proximity to the blocks 1|). When the pins |53 are close tothe blocks 1|! (Figure 4), the weighing device 94 can tilt only a shortdistance which is, however, insuiiicient to drop the egg 39 out of thearcuate portions 94 on the egg supports 8l. When, however, the shafts 95are swung clockwise (Figure4), the pins |03 are swung out of proximityto the blocks 19, permitting the weighing devices 94 which areoverbalanced by suinciently heavy eggs 9B to dump their eggs `upon theramps 81, and thence onto the surfaces of the endless conveyors 45, 46or `41, as the case may be Thendlsss. converge. 45. 452414,41

are supported at their opposite ends upon pulleys |04 (Figure 1), `theforward `pulleysonlytbeing shown., These forward pulleys |04,arejournaled upon the upper ends of spaced arms which. in turn, areinterconnected `by hubs |96 mounted upon a pivot rod |91. The hubs |05(Figurel) are provided with central arms |98 "through which adjustingscrews |09 are threadedgthe inner ends engaging the lowercross-meinbersjI3, The shaft |91 is journaled in *bearingbrackets Ho secured to thecross-member I3, the adjust-` ing screws lili)` permitting thetightening` vor loosening of the endless conveyors 45, 46and41;

In order to shift the rod IUI, the `left-hand end thereof is pivotallyconnected, as at` (Figure l) to the upper arm of a bell-crankrl |24'.Pivoted, as at ||3, to the lowerarm of the belle crank ||2, is avertical rod ||4 which passes downward and is shifted periodically byanad: ditional cam also shown in my previously-(mena,- tioned co-pendingapplication, Serial No. '118355, led December 21, 1946.` i l g i c Theoperation of the machine I0 `asa whole is described in detail in myabove-mentioned co,- pending application Serial No. 718,755. i There--ciprocation and rise and fall of theslide 25 and egg holders 31 intimedcycles causeslrows `of eggs to be successively picked up `and `depositedupon the egg supports 8| of the weighing `sta-- tions 42, 43 and 4-4from the egg rest4| (Figaure 1). If the eggs deposited `at the rstegg-.- weighing station 42 are heavy enough, they tilt the blocks 19 ofthe weighing devices 94 around their pivot pins o r spindles` 68iintocontact with the contact pins` |43 (Figure l4), overbalancing thecounter-ewights 11. Afterueach reciprocation of the slide 25,the rodlill is automatically shifted to permit the tiltedegg weighing `devices94 to dump their suiciently-heavy eggs, whereas, those which arecarrying insuiiciently-heavy eggs remain `uprighaand their eggs areremoved upon the next reciprocation` of the slide25, and carried to thenext ,esseweighing station; 43. I-Iere the saine weight-responsiveselection Atakes place, and the jsuiilciently-heavy` eggs `are dumpedonto the endless conveyor 4B and carjried away, while the light eggsareftransported upon the next reciprocation of theslildeV 25to theweighing station ,44. Here the light eggs are weighed out, dumped on theendless conveyor 41 and carried away. All remaining eggs are thencarried to the final station 48 and dumped without weighing upon theendless conveyor 49 and carried away.` All of the foregoing operationhas been discussed in connectionwith mywpreviously mentioned`application Serial No.718,'155.

rIlhe present invention,` however, ,by the addi.- tional provision ofthe rockable `cl'ianrielmember 48 and the adjusting screws 51 `and( 58(Figures 2 and 5) provides for bodily tilting the weighing devices 94;at each weighingstation'simultaneously so as to alter `the Weight of eggat which each weighing` device 94 will dump. T-hus, by a singleadjustment, the entire bank of `weigh-- ing devices 94' mounted on agiven tiltablechannel member 4B may be adjusted to dumpheavier orlighter eggs. If the eggs are running abnormally heavy, the channelmember, 48` at the first Weighing station 42 may be `tilted so asto cause the individual weighing devices 94 to dump heavier eggs thanpreviously, passing a `greater-,D10- portion of eggs onward to the nextweighing station 43. In thsmanner, `the proportions of `the `eggsdistributed between the variousclasseasuch as heavy, medium analisti.parte adiustedig- |36 and |31 respectively (Figure 9). -flanges of thechannel members |33 are sepastantly Awithout disturbing the individualadjustments of the countervveights 11 upon each weighing devcegd. Whenthe eggs start running light again, the proportions may be restoredbyreadjusting the channel member 48 of the first weighing station 42 totilt under the VWeight of lighter eggs, thereby transmitting a smallerproportion thereof to the succeeding weighing stations 43 and 44.

The egg-weighing devices 94 in a given bank or row are positively heldup and 'then vreleased simultaneously so Vthat all the eggs beingweighed out at that station Will be `dumped simultaneously upon theendless conveyor at that station. This prevents the heavier eggs fromvbeing dumped first and then being broken by a lighter egg coming downon top of them after they have been carried a certain distance by theconveyor beneath the weighing device carrying the lighter egg. Thepresent invention cornpletely prevents such breakage.

The modiiication shown 'in Figure 6 provides for quick removal of eachbank of weighing devices 54. In this modification, the angle brackets 55are split diametrically of their'bores 54 so as to provide bearing caps55a which are bolted as at 55h to the angle bracket 55. Thus, to revmove the entire bank of Weighing devices supported` upon a givenchannel member G, it is only necessary to unscrew the bolts 55h andremove the bearing caps 55a. Such removal is occasionally necessary inorder to clean the various weighing devices after they have becomefouled by dirt, feathers or broken eggs.

lil

Experience with the egg-feeding lunit- 4i] as in disclosed in my(zo-pending application Serial No. '118,755 filed December 27, 1946, hasproved that the spools thereof upon which the eggs are rotated whilebeing fed tend to stick as a result 'of clogging by dirt or otherforeign matter. To eliminate this diiculty, the modied egg-feeding unitshown in Figures '-to 9 inclusive has been provided. The egg-feedingunit 25 is mounted upon 'legs |26 which are interconnected by an anglemember |21 (Figure 8). Sup- 'ported by the angle member |21 is a crossmem- Vber |28 which in turn supports horizontal stripv ping lingers |29which strip the bottoms or ats yfrom the llers or egg-containers inwhich the eggs are received. The action of these stripping lingers |29has been described in my co-pending application Serial No. '718,755previously mentioned V The egg-feeding unit |25 (Figures 7 and 8)includes a frame formed by a pair of vertical channel members |33mounted on the upper ends of the'legs |26 with their channel portionsfacing one another. The channel members |33 are interconnected atintervals by upper and lower angle members |34 and |35 which in turnsupport upper and lower diverging `guide rails The lower rated from thelower angle members |35 by spacing members |38.

Bolted to the channel members |33 at their Aforward and rearward endsare pairs of aligned bearing bushings |39 and |46 respectively, in

which are journaled cross shafts |4| and |42 respectively. The shafts|4| and |42 carry sprockets |43 and |44 respectively, these beingencircled by endless chains |45. The endless chains |45 at intervals areinterconnected by irods |46 carrying capstan-shaped rollers or spools|41. The spools |41 are keyed or splined to the 'rods |43 as -at Vlillar(Figure 9) so as to be positively driven by the rods |46 while beingslidable axially therealong. The spools |41 near their opposite ends areprovided with annular grooves |48 engageable lwith the guide rails |36or |31.

A cross member |49 extends between the lleithand end of the channelmembers |33 (Figure 7) and serves to support egg rests |55 which aresimilar to the egg rests 4| previously described. The egg rests |50consist of pairs of thin parallel bars 5| separated by gaps less than'the small diameter of an undersized egg and having arcuate cutawayportions |52 on 'their upper edges. The right-hand ends of the bars |52are positioned approximately in line with the grooves ,|48 of the spools|41. The channel members |33 at their left-hand ends rest upon an anglemember r|53 which in turn is secured to an angle member |54 mounted onthe legs i2 at the righthand end of the egg-sorting unit I (Figures land 8).

In order to drive the sprocket chain |45, the shaft |42 carries an outersprocket |55 upon the outer end thereof (Figure 7), this being driven bya sprocket chain (not shown) connected to the driving mechanism yfor theegg-sorting machine IO, in a manner fully disclosed in mypreviously-mentioned co-pendn'g application Serial No. 718,755, In orderto positively rotate the spools |41 upon their shafts |46, each of thelatter is provided at one end with a pinion |56 (Figures 7 and 9) whichmeshes with the teeth i5? of an orbital or elongated endless rack |58n(-ligure 8) vThe rack |58 is secured by bolts |59 and tubular spacers|64 to one or the channel members |33 (Figure 9) so as to be accuratelyheld in position.

In the operation of the modified egg-feeding unit |25 shown in Figures*i to 9 inclusive, let it be assumed that the cardboard fillers oregg-containers have been slid along the ngers |29 and that their bottomshave been removed by the latter. As the llers are slid beyond theleft-hand ends of the lingers |29, the eggs therein drop upon the spools|41 and come to rest between spools. Meanwhile, the rotation of thesprocket and the consequent rotation of the sprockets |43 and |44 drivesthe sprocket chains |33 in an orbital path, carrying with them the rods|46. As these move along, the pinions |55 roll upon the teeth |51 of theorbital rack |58, causing the rods |46 and their spools |41 to beforcibly and positively rotated. In this manner, the spools |41 areprevented from sti-cking or binding, as occasionally occurs with freelyrotatable spools. The eggs are thus forcibly rotated as they areadvanced to the left, causing them to reach the egg rests |50 with theirlong axes approximately horizontal.

As the spools |41 and their rods |46 travel to ward the left (Figure 7),the guide rails |36 engage the spool grooves |43 and cause the eggs tobe separated into spaced rows, the eggs of each row finally coming torest with their long axes horizontal in the arcuate cutaway portions |52of the egg rests |50'. The eggs are thus deposited in the positionssimilar to those shown for the eggs 38 upon the egg rests 4| in Figurel, and the operation of the machine is thenceforth as described above.

In the operation of the machine, it occasionally happens that an egg isdislodged from the egg rests 4| or |50 (Figures l and 8) and dropsdownward. To prevent or minimize the breakage of such eggs. the anglemember E54 is provided with holes |6| (Figure 1) beneath the egg rests4| or` |50, these holes being large enough for the pas-` sage of an egg.Thus,` the egg drops through the holes IBI and falls upon a soft rubberpad` |62 of sponge rubber or the like mounted upon an inclined chute |63which directs them downward to a suitable receiver (not shown). Thus,the eggs which would otherwise be broken when dislodged from the eggrests 4| or |50 arrive undamaged in the receiver and may be removed fromthe 10` latter and placed back in the machine for further sorting. Thechute |63 is provided with an end Wall |64 and side walls |65 to preventthe egg from bouncing out. i Y f WhatI claim is: l

1. An adjustable-range Aegg-sorting machine comprising a supportingstructure, an elongated member tiltably mounted on said supportingstructure, an adjusting element engaging said elongated member to limitthe tilting thereof, a plurality of tiltable egg-weighing devices havingcounterweights thereon, said egg-weighing devices being mounted uponsaid member and responsive to predetermined weights of eggs to tilt saiddevices to dump the eggs therefrom, the tilting axes of said elongatedmember and` egg-` weighing devices being arranged substantially parallelto one another, the center of gravity `of each counterweight beingarranged a substantial distance above the horizontal plane throughthe mtilting axis of its respective egg-weighing device, and a conveyorarranged adjacent said egg- Weighing devices for carrying away the eggsso dumped.

member tiltablyA mounted on said supporting structure, an adjustingelement engaging said elongated member to limit the tilting thereof, a

plurality of `tiltable egg-weighing devices having; counterweightsthereon, said egg-weighing de-z.

and a conveyor arranged adjacent said egg-g` weighing devices forcarrying away the eggs .so`

dumped, the axes of tilt of said egg-Weighing de.A vices beingsubstantially parallel.

5. An adjustable-range egg-sorting machin comprising a supportingstructuraan elongated member tiltably mounted on said supportingstructure, an adjusting element engaging said elongated member to `limitthe tilting thereof, a plurality of tiltable egg-weighing devices havingcounterweights thereon, said egg-Weighing devices being mounted uponsaid member and responsive to `predetermined weights of eggs `to tiltsaid devices to dump the eggs therefrom, the tilting axes of said`elongated member and egg- Weighing devices "being arrangedsubstantially parallel to one another', `the center of gravity of-f eachcounterweight being arranged a substantial distance above the horizontalplane through the tilting axis of its respective egg-weighing device,

2. An adjustable-range egg-sorting machine-gaf shiftablestop disposedadjacent each weighing comprising a supporting structure, an elongatedmember tiltably mounted on said supporting structure, an adjustingelement engaging said elongated member to limit the tilting thereof, aplurality of tiltable egg-weighing devices having ,w counterweightsthereon, said egg-weighing -devices being mounted upon saidmember andresponsive to predetermined weights of eggs totilt said devices to dumpthe eggs therefrom, the tilting axes of said elongated member and egg- 5weighing devices being arranged substantially parallel to one another,the centerof gravity of each counterweight being arranged a substantial`distance above the horizontal plane through the tilting axis of itsrespective egg-weighing device, an individual tilt adjustment for eachdevice, and

a conveyor arranged adjacentsaid egg-weighing devices for carrying awaythe eggs so dumped.

3. An adjustable-range egg-sorting machine comprising a supportingstructure, an elongated member tiltably i mounted on said supportingstructure, an adjusting element engaging said elongated member to limitthe tilting thereofy a plurality of tiltable egg-weighing devices havingcounterweights thereon, said egg-weighing de-150 vices being mountedupon said member and responsive to predetermined weights of eggs to tiltsaid `devices to dump the eggs therefrom, an individually adjustablecounterweight on each de-` vice, the tilting 'axes of said elongatedmember 65 andegg-vveighing devices being arranged substantially parallelto one another, the center of gravity of each counterweight beingarranged a substantial distance above the horizontal plane through thetilting `axis of its respective eggweighing device, and a conveyorarranged adjacent said egg-Weighing devices for carrying away the eggsso dumped.

4. An adjustable-range egg-sorting machine comprising` a supportingstructure, an elongated 7:,`

device and arranged in one position to prevent tilting thereof beyondapredetermined angle and` in another position to permit such tilting, anda conveyor arranged adjacent said egg-weighing devices for carrying awaythe eggs so dumped. if

6. An adjustable-range egg-sorting machine comprising a supportingstructure, an elongatedmember tiltably vmounted' on `said supporting`structure, `an adjusting element engaging said;

elongated member to limit the tilting thereof,` av plurality of tiltableegg-weighing devices having counterweights thereon, said egg-weighing devices being `mounted. upon said member and` re-` sponsive topredetermined weights of eggs to tilt said devices to dump the eggstherefrom, the tilting axes of 'said elongated member and egg--`Weighing devices being arranged substantially` parallel to one another,the center of gravity of each counterweight'being arranged a substantialdistance above the'horizontal plane through the tilting axis of 'itsrespective egg-weighing device,

by said shiftable stop and a conveyor arranged adjacent saidegg-Weighing devices for carrying away the eggs so dumped. i

7. An adjustable-range egg-sorting machine comprising a supportingstructure having laterally` spaced cross-members, an elongated membertiltablyzmounted near its opposite ends on said cross-members, a limitelement adjustably engaging said elongated member to` limit` the tiltthereof, an opposing elementoppositelyengaging said elongated member tolimit tiltingthereofin the opposite` direction, a plurality of,tiltableegg-.

agence-r1;

1'1 weighing? devices having counterweights thenecm said egg-weighingdevices' being: mounted:l uponl said' elongated member' and responsiveto',v prf-:de-v termined Weights or eggs to: tilt said devices'y to'.dump? the eggs therefrom, theV tilting.' axes of'. said. elongatedmember'an-d egg-weighing devi'ces being' arranged substantially parallelto@ one an.- other,4 the center of gravityo-f each count'erweight'.being arranged` a substantial distance` above the horizontal plane'through: the' tilting axisvv of' its'.

respective?- egg-weighing` device, anda conveyor' arranged adjacent'`said egg-weighing' devices for carrying' away 'the eggs so dumped.

8-r` An adjustable-range' egg-sorting machine. comprising a supportingstructure' having'laterally-spaced. cross-m'embersg-ant elongated membertiltably' mounted near its` opposite ends on said cross-members, alimit"l element" adjustably' engagin'g'vv said elongated member toilimit the tilt thereof;A an opposing element' oppositely engaging` saidelongated` member' to:vv limit tiltingl thereof. in theioppositedirection, a plurality. of tiltable eggweighing devices` having`eonnterweights thereon, said egg-weighing devices4 b'eing mounted uponsaid elongated membery and4 responsive' to: prede'- termine'd Weights ofeggsI to tilt said devices tol dump' the eggs therefrom; thetiltin'gAaxes' of' saidr elongated member" andi egg-weighing.' devices be'- in'garranged substantially: parallel to onev aniother, the' c'enterofgravity of each countervveight being' arranged a substantial distanceabove the horizontal plane through'. the tilting` axis of its.'respective egg-weighing" device, and aconveyor. arranged adjacent saidegg-weighing' devices for' carrying away' the eggsV sol dumpedgachrofsaidngegg-weighing devices comprising a pair of spaced' brackets and atiltable body pivotally/ mounted bl'itweer'rV said brackets' andhavingtan egg-support' extending outwardly from. they pivot. axis ofsaid bodyi 9i Arr adjustable-range egg-sorting machine comprising asupporting structure having laterally spaced' cross-members, anelongated member: tiltably mounted near' its'. opposite' ends on said;crossnreinbersf, a limit screw threadedly supported adjacent saidelongated member-and ad'- just'abl'y'eng'agingsaidE elongatedv member'to'- limit they tiltA thereof, ari opposing' element oppositely engagingsaid elongated member'to limit tilting thereof in the oppositedirection,a plurality of' tiltable egg-weighing' devices having counter'- weightsthereon, said egg-weighing devices being mounted upon said elongatedmember and; responsive to predetermined'A weights of eggs to.y tilt saiddevices to dump the eggs therefrom, the tilt'- in'g axes of saidelongated member and eggweighing devices being arranged substantiallyparallel to one' another', the center' of gravityl of eachcounterweight' being' arranged a substantial distance above the'horizontal plane through the tilting axis of its respective egg-Weighingdevice, and a conveyor arranged adjacentA said eggweighing devices4 forvcarryingaway the eggs soy dumped.

10i An adjustable-range egg-sorting machine comprising a supportingstructure' having laterally-spaced cross-members, an" elongated membertiltably mounted near' its opposite ends on said cross-members, a limit'element adjustabl'y engagihg said elongated member to limit the tiltthereof, an opposing limit' screw threadedly'supported adjacent saidelongated member and oppositely engaging saidvr elongated member to'limit tilting thereof in the opposite direction, a plurality of tiltableegg-weighing devices having counterweights' thereo'msaid egg-weighing'dcvicesrbe'h ing mounted upon. said elongated member and? responsive topredetermined' weights of.` eggs.- to'- tilt said devices' to' dump the'eggs therefrom, the tilting axes' of said elongated member andi egg,-Weighing devicesbeing arranged substantially parallel to one another,thec'enter of gravity of each' counterweight being arranged asubstantial distance' above th'e horizontal plane through the' tiltingaxis of itsrespective' egg-Weighing' device, and aconveyor arrangedadjacent said' eggweghing devicesy for carrying away the eggs so'dumped.

11. An adjustable-range egg-sorting' machine comprising a supportingstructure hen/ingv laterally-spaced cross-members, an elongated membertiltably mounted near its opposite ends' on said cross-members, a limit'screw threadedlyy sup'- portedadjacent said elongated' member and ad#justablyenga'ging said elongated member'to limity the tilt' thereof, anopposing limit screw threadedly supported adjacent said elongatedmember' and oppositely' engaging' said elongated member to limit tiltingthereof in the opposite direction,`

a plurality of tiltable egg-weighingv devices hav-f ing counterweightsthereon, said' egg-weighing devices being mounted upon said elongatedmem'- ber and responsive to. predetermined weights of eggsv toA tiltsaid devices to dump' the. eggs therefrom, the tilting axes of saidelongated member and eggeweighing devices being arranged sub'-stantially' parallel to one another, the center of gravity of eachcounterwei'ght being arrangedv a substantial distance above thehorizontal plane through the tilting axisy of its respective eggweighingdevice, and a conveyor arrange-d adjacent' said egg-Weighing devicesforcarryng away the eggs so dumped.

12. An adjustable-range egg-sorting machine comprising a supportingstructure, an elongated member tiltably mounted on saidf supportingstructure, an adjusting element engaging' said' elongated member tolimit the tilting thereof, a plurality of tiltable egg-Weighing deviceshaving counterweights' thereon, said? egg-weighing devices' being`mounted upon said member and responsive to predetermined Weights of eggsto tilt saidl devices to dump the eggs therefrom, the tilting axes of'said elongated member and egg- Iweighing' devices being arrangedsubstantiallyy parallel' to one another, th-e center of gravity of eachcounterweight being. arranged a substantial distance above the'horizontal pla-ne through the tilting axis of its respectiveegg-Weighing device, and a conveyor arranged adjacent said egg'weighing: devices for carrying away the eggs so dumped, said, supportingstructure having' a removable hearing member tiltably supporting saidelongated member whereby to facilitate rapid removal of.y said elongatedmember from said' machine.

13. AnY adjustable-range egg-sortingy machine comprising a supportingstructure, an elongated member tiltably mounted on said supportingstructure, an adjusting element engaging said elongated member 'to limitthe tilting thereof, a plurality of tiltable egg-weighing devices havingc'ounterweights thereon, said egg-weighing devices being mounted uponsaid member and responsive to predetermined weights of' eggs to tiltsaiddevices to dump the eggs therefrom, the tilting axes of said elongatedmember and eggweighing devices being arranged substantially parallel toone another, the center of gravity of each counterweightbeing arranged asubstantial REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date White Oct. 25, 1932 RheinstromJan. 231, 1940 Marsden Sept. 22, 1942 White Dec. 15, 1942 Sneed Apr. 18,1944

